This watchdog blog, by journalist Norman Oder, offers analysis, commentary, and reportage about the $4.9B project to build the Barclays Center arena and 15-16 towers at a crucial site in Brooklyn. Dubbed Atlantic Yards by developer Forest City Ratner in 2003, it was rebranded Pacific Park Brooklyn in 2014 after the Chinese government-owned Greenland Group bought a 70% stake going forward. As of 2018, after the arena and four towers were built, Greenland owns 95% of future construction.

At the Brooklyn Museum gala, honors for (and $ from) Bruce Ratner

If you have $1000 or more to spend, you can attend the Brooklyn Museum's Brooklyn Ball 2008 on April 3, honoring developer Bruce Ratner and celebrating the opening of an exhibition billed as "the most comprehensive retrospective to date of the work of internationally acclaimed Japanese artist Takashi Murakami." (Click on graphics to enlarge.)

Board memberJoanne Minieri, president of Forest City Ratner, is on the museum's board. Robert S. Rubin is a Nets owner.

Medal winnerRatner will get the Augustus Graham Medal, named for a founder of the Brooklyn Apprentices Library in 1823, which later grew into the Brooklyn Museum. The medal "is presented annually in recognition of community involvement, generous patronage of the arts, and outstanding contribution to the Museum."

Ratner is described as "a leading corporate citizen of Brooklyn and New York City, and a singularly important supporter of the arts and other philanthropic endeavors." (Would it be churlish to point out singular support for Assembly Democrats and lobbyist Al D'Amato?) Note the special performance by Kanye West, likely a result thanks to co-chair Jay-Z (see below).

Co-chair connectionsThree of the eight co-chairs have a connection to Ratner, including rapper and entrepreneur Jay-Z, who owns a piece of the Nets; FCR president Minieri; and Brett Yormark, president of Nets Sports & Entertainment.

Barclays on boardAmong the vice-chairs are Barclays Capital, which has signed a naming rights deal for the Atlantic Yards arena, Nets Sports and Entertainment, and, of course, Forest City Ratner.